1
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Wu JY, Hu XY, Zhu HY, Deng RQ, Ai Q. A Bionic Compass Based on Multiradicals. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:10327-10334. [PMID: 36448780 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c02711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The underlying chemical and physical mechanism of avian navigation is an important issue of broad interest. One of the most famous candidates is the radical-pair mechanism, which shows that the magnetoreception is achieved by detecting the amount of chemical-reaction product from the singlet state. In the hypothesis, the surrounding nuclear spins play an important role as inducing the coherent transition between the singlet and triplet states. Recently, it was suggested that a multiradical model beyond two radicals can also realize magnetoreception without the assistance of nuclear spins. Inspired by this discovery, we explore the amount of the singlet recombination product in a multiradical model, with a radical bath described by the Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick (LMG) model, which was originally proposed for quantum phase transition (QPT). We show that the sensitivity of the bionic compass can be improved at the critical point. Our results may pave the way for the exploration of the design principle of the bionic compass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Yi Wu
- Department of Physics, Applied Optics Beijing Area Major Laboratory, Beijing Normal University, Beijing100875, China
| | - Xin-Yuan Hu
- Department of Physics, Applied Optics Beijing Area Major Laboratory, Beijing Normal University, Beijing100875, China
| | - Hai-Yuan Zhu
- Department of Physics, Applied Optics Beijing Area Major Laboratory, Beijing Normal University, Beijing100875, China
| | - Ru-Qiong Deng
- Department of Physics, Applied Optics Beijing Area Major Laboratory, Beijing Normal University, Beijing100875, China
| | - Qing Ai
- Department of Physics, Applied Optics Beijing Area Major Laboratory, Beijing Normal University, Beijing100875, China
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2
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Xiao DW, Hu WH, Cai Y, Zhao N. Magnetic Noise Enabled Biocompass. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2020; 124:128101. [PMID: 32281830 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.124.128101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of magnetic protein provides a new understanding of a biocompass at the molecular level. However, the mechanism by which magnetic protein enables a biocompass is still under debate, mainly because of the absence of permanent magnetism in the magnetic protein at room temperature. Here, based on a widely accepted radical pair model of a biocompass, we propose a microscopic mechanism that allows the biocompass to operate without a finite magnetization of the magnetic protein in a biological environment. With the structure of the magnetic protein, we show that the magnetic fluctuation, rather than the permanent magnetism, of the magnetic protein can enable geomagnetic field sensing. An analysis of the quantum dynamics of our microscopic model reveals the necessary conditions for optimal sensitivity. Our work clarifies the mechanism by which magnetic protein enables a biocompass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da-Wu Xiao
- Beijing Computational Science Research Center, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Wen-Hui Hu
- Beijing Computational Science Research Center, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yunfeng Cai
- Cognitive Computing Lab, Baidu Research, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Nan Zhao
- Beijing Computational Science Research Center, Beijing 100193, China
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3
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Tao MJ, Zhang NN, Wen PY, Deng FG, Ai Q, Long GL. Coherent and incoherent theories for photosynthetic energy transfer. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2020; 65:318-328. [PMID: 36659097 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2019.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
There is a remarkable characteristic of photosynthesis in nature, that is, the energy transfer efficiency is close to 100%. Recently, due to the rapid progress made in the experimental techniques, quantum coherent effects have been experimentally demonstrated. Traditionally, the incoherent theories are capable of calculating the energy transfer efficiency, e.g., (generalized) Förster theory and modified Redfield theory (MRT). However, in order to describe the quantum coherent effects in photosynthesis, one has to exploit coherent theories, such as hierarchical equation of motion (HEOM), quantum path integral, coherent modified Redfield theory (CMRT), small-polaron quantum master equation, and general Bloch-Redfield theory in addition to the Redfield theory. Here, we summarize the main points of the above approaches, which might be beneficial to the quantum simulation of quantum dynamics of exciton energy transfer (EET) in natural photosynthesis, and shed light on the design of artificial light-harvesting devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Jie Tao
- Department of Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Department of Physics, Applied Optics Beijing Area Major Laboratory, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Na-Na Zhang
- Department of Physics, Applied Optics Beijing Area Major Laboratory, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Peng-Yu Wen
- Department of Physics, Applied Optics Beijing Area Major Laboratory, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Fu-Guo Deng
- Department of Physics, Applied Optics Beijing Area Major Laboratory, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; NAAM-Research Group, Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Qing Ai
- Department of Physics, Applied Optics Beijing Area Major Laboratory, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
| | - Gui-Lu Long
- Department of Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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4
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Worster SB, Hore PJ. Proposal to use superparamagnetic nanoparticles to test the role of cryptochrome in magnetoreception. J R Soc Interface 2018; 15:20180587. [PMID: 30381345 PMCID: PMC6228473 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2018.0587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence is accumulating to support the hypothesis that some animals use light-induced radical pairs to detect the direction of the Earth's magnetic field. Cryptochrome proteins seem to be involved in the sensory pathway but it is not yet clear if they are the magnetic sensors: they could, instead, play a non-magnetic role as signal transducers downstream of the primary sensor. Here we propose an experiment with the potential to distinguish these functions. The principle is to use superparamagnetic nanoparticles to disable any magnetic sensing role by enhancing the electron spin relaxation of the radicals so as to destroy their spin correlation. We use spin dynamics simulations to show that magnetoferritin, a synthetic, protein-based nanoparticle, has the required properties. If cryptochrome is the primary sensor, then it should be inactivated by a magnetoferritin particle placed 12-16 nm away. This would prevent a bird from using its magnetic compass in behavioural tests and abolish magnetically sensitive neuronal firing in the retina. The key advantage of such an experiment is that any signal transduction role should be completely unaffected by the tiny magnetic interactions (≪kBT) required to enhance the spin relaxation of the radical pair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susannah Bourne Worster
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ, UK
| | - P J Hore
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ, UK
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5
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Binhi VN, Prato FS. Biological effects of the hypomagnetic field: An analytical review of experiments and theories. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0179340. [PMID: 28654641 PMCID: PMC5487043 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
During interplanetary flights in the near future, a human organism will be exposed to prolonged periods of a hypomagnetic field that is 10,000 times weaker than that of Earth's. Attenuation of the geomagnetic field occurs in buildings with steel walls and in buildings with steel reinforcement. It cannot be ruled out also that a zero magnetic field might be interesting in biomedical studies and therapy. Further research in the area of hypomagnetic field effects, as shown in this article, is capable of shedding light on a fundamental problem in biophysics-the problem of primary magnetoreception. This review contains, currently, the most extensive bibliography on the biological effects of hypomagnetic field. This includes both a review of known experimental results and the putative mechanisms of magnetoreception and their explanatory power with respect to the hypomagnetic field effects. We show that the measured correlations of the HMF effect with HMF magnitude and inhomogeneity and type and duration of exposure are statistically absent. This suggests that there is no general biophysical MF target similar for different organisms. This also suggests that magnetoreception is not necessarily associated with evolutionary developed specific magnetoreceptors in migrating animals and magnetotactic bacteria. Independently, there is nonspecific magnetoreception that is common for all organisms, manifests itself in very different biological observables as mostly random reactions, and is a result of MF interaction with magnetic moments at a physical level-moments that are present everywhere in macromolecules and proteins and can sometimes transfer the magnetic signal at the level of downstream biochemical events. The corresponding universal mechanism of magnetoreception that has been given further theoretical analysis allows one to determine the parameters of magnetic moments involved in magnetoreception-their gyromagnetic ratio and thermal relaxation time-and so to better understand the nature of MF targets in organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir N. Binhi
- A.M. Prokhorov General Physics Institute, Moscow, Russia
- M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Frank S. Prato
- Lawson Health Research Institute, Ontario, Canada
- University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
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6
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Kavokin K. Can a hybrid chemical-ferromagnetic model of the avian compass explain its outstanding sensitivity to magnetic noise? PLoS One 2017; 12:e0173887. [PMID: 28296939 PMCID: PMC5352016 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
While many properties of the magnetic compass of migratory birds are satisfactory explained within the chemical model of magnetoreception, its extreme sensitivity to radio-frequency magnetic fields remains a mystery. Apparently, this difficulty could be overcome if the magnetoreceptor model were augmented with a magnetite nanoparticle, which would amplify the magnetic field at the position of the magneto-sensitive cryptochrome molecule. However, comparison of the radio-frequency power used in the experiment with intrinsic magnetization noise of such a particle, estimated from the theory of fluctuations, shows that the required sensitivity cannot be reached with realistic parameters of iron-oxide nanocrystals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirill Kavokin
- Spin Optics Laboratory, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
- I.M.Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry RAS, St. Petersburg, Russia
- * E-mail:
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7
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Zablotskii V, Polyakova T, Lunov O, Dejneka A. How a High-Gradient Magnetic Field Could Affect Cell Life. Sci Rep 2016; 6:37407. [PMID: 27857227 PMCID: PMC5114642 DOI: 10.1038/srep37407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The biological effects of high-gradient magnetic fields (HGMFs) have steadily gained the increased attention of researchers from different disciplines, such as cell biology, cell therapy, targeted stem cell delivery and nanomedicine. We present a theoretical framework towards a fundamental understanding of the effects of HGMFs on intracellular processes, highlighting new directions for the study of living cell machinery: changing the probability of ion-channel on/off switching events by membrane magneto-mechanical stress, suppression of cell growth by magnetic pressure, magnetically induced cell division and cell reprograming, and forced migration of membrane receptor proteins. By deriving a generalized form for the Nernst equation, we find that a relatively small magnetic field (approximately 1 T) with a large gradient (up to 1 GT/m) can significantly change the membrane potential of the cell and thus have a significant impact on not only the properties and biological functionality of cells but also cell fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitalii Zablotskii
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, 18221, Czech Republic
| | - Tatyana Polyakova
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, 18221, Czech Republic
| | - Oleg Lunov
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, 18221, Czech Republic
| | - Alexandr Dejneka
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, 18221, Czech Republic
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8
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Procopio M, Ritz T. Inhomogeneous ensembles of radical pairs in chemical compasses. Sci Rep 2016; 6:35443. [PMID: 27804956 PMCID: PMC5090225 DOI: 10.1038/srep35443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The biophysical basis for the ability of animals to detect the geomagnetic field and to use it for finding directions remains a mystery of sensory biology. One much debated hypothesis suggests that an ensemble of specialized light-induced radical pair reactions can provide the primary signal for a magnetic compass sensor. The question arises what features of such a radical pair ensemble could be optimized by evolution so as to improve the detection of the direction of weak magnetic fields. Here, we focus on the overlooked aspect of the noise arising from inhomogeneity of copies of biomolecules in a realistic biological environment. Such inhomogeneity leads to variations of the radical pair parameters, thereby deteriorating the signal arising from an ensemble and providing a source of noise. We investigate the effect of variations in hyperfine interactions between different copies of simple radical pairs on the directional response of a compass system. We find that the choice of radical pair parameters greatly influences how strongly the directional response of an ensemble is affected by inhomogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Procopio
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, 92697-4345, USA
| | - Thorsten Ritz
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, 92697-4345, USA
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9
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Hiscock HG, Kattnig DR, Manolopoulos DE, Hore PJ. Floquet theory of radical pairs in radiofrequency magnetic fields. J Chem Phys 2016; 145:124117. [DOI: 10.1063/1.4963793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hamish G. Hiscock
- Department of Chemistry, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel R. Kattnig
- Department of Chemistry, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ, United Kingdom
| | - David E. Manolopoulos
- Department of Chemistry, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ, United Kingdom
| | - P. J. Hore
- Department of Chemistry, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ, United Kingdom
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10
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Affiliation(s)
- P. J. Hore
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QZ, United Kingdom;
| | - Henrik Mouritsen
- Institut für Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, DE-26111 Oldenburg, Germany;
- Research Centre for Neurosensory Sciences, University of Oldenburg, DE-26111 Oldenburg, Germany
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11
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Xu BM, Zou J. Dark state population determines magnetic sensitivity in radical pair magnetoreception model. Sci Rep 2016; 6:22417. [PMID: 26926264 PMCID: PMC4772487 DOI: 10.1038/srep22417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2015] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
What is the real role of the quantum coherence and entanglement in the radical pair (RP) compass, and what determines the singlet yield have not been fully understood. In this paper, we find that the dark states of the two-electron Zeeman energy operator (TEZE) play an important role in the RP compass. We respectively calculate the singlet yields for two initial states in this dark state basis: the coherent state and the same state just removing the dark state coherence. For the later there is neither dark state coherence nor entanglement in the whole dynamical process. Surprisingly we find that in both cases the singlet yields are the same, and based on this result, we believe that the dark state population determines the singlet yield completely, and the dark state coherence and entanglement have little contribution to it. Finally, we also find that the dark state population as well as the singlet yield anisotropy is fragile to the vertical magnetic noise. However, the orientation is robust and is even enhanced by the parallel magnetic noise because the dark states expand a decoherence-free subspace. The dark state population as well as the orientation is more robust to the hyperfine coupling noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao-Ming Xu
- School of Physics, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, China
| | - Jian Zou
- School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
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12
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Kattnig DR, Evans EW, Déjean V, Dodson CA, Wallace MI, Mackenzie SR, Timmel CR, Hore PJ. Chemical amplification of magnetic field effects relevant to avian magnetoreception. Nat Chem 2016; 8:384-91. [PMID: 27001735 DOI: 10.1038/nchem.2447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 12/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Magnetic fields as weak as the Earth's can change the yields of radical pair reactions even though the energies involved are orders of magnitude smaller than the thermal energy, kBT, at room temperature. Proposed as the source of the light-dependent magnetic compass in migratory birds, the radical pair mechanism is thought to operate in cryptochrome flavoproteins in the retina. Here we demonstrate that the primary magnetic field effect on flavin photoreactions can be amplified chemically by slow radical termination reactions under conditions of continuous photoexcitation. The nature and origin of the amplification are revealed by studies of the intermolecular flavin-tryptophan and flavin-ascorbic acid photocycles and the closely related intramolecular flavin-tryptophan radical pair in cryptochrome. Amplification factors of up to 5.6 were observed for magnetic fields weaker than 1 mT. Substantial chemical amplification could have a significant impact on the viability of a cryptochrome-based magnetic compass sensor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Kattnig
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Physical &Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford OX1 3QZ, UK
| | - Emrys W Evans
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford OX1 3QR, UK
| | - Victoire Déjean
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford OX1 3QR, UK
| | - Charlotte A Dodson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Mark I Wallace
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Stuart R Mackenzie
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Physical &Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford OX1 3QZ, UK
| | - Christiane R Timmel
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford OX1 3QR, UK
| | - P J Hore
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Physical &Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford OX1 3QZ, UK
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13
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Melkikh AV, Khrennikov A. Nontrivial quantum and quantum-like effects in biosystems: Unsolved questions and paradoxes. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2015; 119:137-61. [PMID: 26160644 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2015.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2015] [Revised: 07/02/2015] [Accepted: 07/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Non-trivial quantum effects in biological systems are analyzed. Some unresolved issues and paradoxes related to quantum effects (Levinthal's paradox, the paradox of speed, and mechanisms of evolution) are addressed. It is concluded that the existence of non-trivial quantum effects is necessary for the functioning of living systems. In particular, it is demonstrated that classical mechanics cannot explain the stable work of the cell and any over-cell structures. The need for quantum effects is generated also by combinatorial problems of evolution. Their solution requires a priori information about the states of the evolving system, but within the framework of the classical theory it is not possible to explain mechanisms of its storage consistently. We also present essentials of so called quantum-like paradigm: sufficiently complex bio-systems process information by violating the laws of classical probability and information theory. Therefore the mathematical apparatus of quantum theory may have fruitful applications to describe behavior of bio-systems: from cells to brains, ecosystems and social systems. In quantum-like information biology it is not presumed that quantum information bio-processing is resulted from quantum physical processes in living organisms. Special experiments to test the role of quantum mechanics in living systems are suggested. This requires a detailed study of living systems on the level of individual atoms and molecules. Such monitoring of living systems in vivo can allow the identification of the real potentials of interaction between biologically important molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey V Melkikh
- Ural Federal University, Mira str. 19, Yekaterinburg, 620002, Russia.
| | - Andrei Khrennikov
- International Center for Mathematical Modelling in Physics and Cognitive Sciences, Linnaeus University, Växjö, S-35195, Sweden.
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14
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Zhang Y, Berman GP, Kais S. Sensitivity and entanglement in the avian chemical compass. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2014; 90:042707. [PMID: 25375523 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.90.042707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The radical pair mechanism can help to explain avian orientation and navigation. Some evidence indicates that the intensity of external magnetic fields plays an important role in avian navigation. In this paper, using a two-stage model, we demonstrate that birds could reasonably detect the directions of geomagnetic fields and gradients of these fields using a yield-based chemical compass that is sensitive enough for navigation. Also, we find that the lifetime of entanglement in this proposed compass is angle dependent and long enough to allow adequate electron transfer between molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiteng Zhang
- Department of Physics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Gennady P Berman
- Theoretical Division, LANL, and New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - Sabre Kais
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Physics, and Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA and Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute, Qatar Foundation, Doha 5825, Qatar
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15
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Walters ZB. Quantum dynamics of the avian compass. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2014; 90:042710. [PMID: 25375526 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.90.042710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2013] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The ability of migratory birds to orient relative to the Earth's magnetic field is believed to involve a coherent superposition of two spin states of a radical electron pair. However, the mechanism by which this coherence can be maintained in the face of strong interactions with the cellular environment has remained unclear. This paper addresses the problem of decoherence between two electron spins due to hyperfine interaction with a bath of spin-1/2 nuclei. Dynamics of the radical pair density matrix are derived and shown to yield a simple mechanism for sensing magnetic field orientation. Rates of dephasing and decoherence are calculated ab initio and found to yield millisecond coherence times, consistent with behavioral experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary B Walters
- Max Planck Institute for Physics of Complex Systems, Nöthnitzer Strasse 38, D-01187 Dresden, Germany
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16
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Clausen J, Guerreschi GG, Tiersch M, Briegel HJ. Multiple re-encounter approach to radical pair reactions and the role of nonlinear master equations. J Chem Phys 2014; 141:054107. [DOI: 10.1063/1.4891470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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17
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Tiersch M, Guerreschi GG, Clausen J, Briegel HJ. Approaches to measuring entanglement in chemical magnetometers. J Phys Chem A 2013; 118:13-20. [PMID: 24372396 PMCID: PMC3888248 DOI: 10.1021/jp408569d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Chemical magnetometers are radical
pair systems such as solutions of pyrene and N,N-dimethylaniline (Py–DMA) that show magnetic field
effects in their spin dynamics and their fluorescence. We investigate
the existence and decay of quantum entanglement in free geminate Py–DMA
radical pairs and discuss how entanglement can be assessed in these
systems. We provide an entanglement witness and propose possible observables
for experimentally estimating entanglement in radical pair systems
with isotropic hyperfine couplings. As an application, we analyze
how the field dependence of the entanglement lifetime in Py–DMA
could in principle be used for magnetometry and illustrate the propagation
of measurement errors in this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Tiersch
- Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information, Austrian Academy of Sciences , Technikerstrasse 21A, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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18
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Xu BM, Zou J, Li JG, Shao B. Estimating the hyperfine coupling parameters of the avian compass by comprehensively considering the available experimental results. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2013; 88:032703. [PMID: 24125290 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.88.032703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2013] [Revised: 07/15/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Migratory birds can utilize the geomagnetic field for orientation and navigation through a widely accepted radical-pair mechanism. Although many theoretical works have been done, the available experimental results have not been fully considered, especially the temporary disorientation induced by the field which is increased by 30% of the geomagnetic field and the disorientation of the very weak resonant field of 15 nT. In this paper, we consider the monotonicity of the singlet yield angular profile as the prerequisite of direction sensitivity, and find that for some optimal values of the hyperfine coupling parameters (that is, the order of 10^{-7}∼10^{-6} meV) the experimental results available so far can be satisfied. We also investigate the effects of two decoherence environments and demonstrate that, in order to satisfy the available experimental results, the decoherence rate should be lower than the recombination rate. Finally, we investigate the effects of the fluctuating magnetic noises and find that the vertical noise destroys the monotonicity of the profile completely, but the parallel noise preserves the monotonicity perfectly and even can enhance the direction sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao-Ming Xu
- School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, People's Republic of China
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19
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Optical switching of radical pair conformation enhances magnetic sensitivity. Chem Phys Lett 2013; 572:106-110. [PMID: 25843962 PMCID: PMC4375724 DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2013.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2013] [Accepted: 04/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
We propose to switch the conformation of radical pairs to control their reaction kinetics. The optical control does not interfere directly with the electron or nuclear spin dynamics. Our scheme may highly improve the sensitivity of chemical magnetometers.
The yield of radical pair reactions is influenced by magnetic fields well beyond the levels expected from energy considerations. This dependence can be traced back to the microscopic dynamics of electron spins and constitutes the basis of chemical compasses. Here we propose a new experimental approach based on molecular photoswitches to achieve additional control on the chemical reaction and allow short-time resolution of the spin dynamics. Our proposal enables experiments to test some of the standard assumptions of the radical pair model and improves the sensitivity of a paradigmatic model of chemical magnetometer by up to two orders of magnitude.
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Mouritsen H, Hore PJ. The magnetic retina: light-dependent and trigeminal magnetoreception in migratory birds. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2012; 22:343-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2012.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2011] [Revised: 01/03/2012] [Accepted: 01/17/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Vanderstraeten J, Burda H. Does magnetoreception mediate biological effects of power-frequency magnetic fields? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2012; 417-418:299-304. [PMID: 22071437 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.08.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2011] [Revised: 08/25/2011] [Accepted: 08/29/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The question of possible biological effects of power-frequency magnetic fields (PF-MF) remains controversial, notably because no valid mechanism of interaction could be proposed so far for intensities relevant to human and animal exposure (e.g. such as near high-tension power lines). In rodents, however, a few consistent effects of weak PF-MF have been reported. These are, notably, influence on spatial memory and partial inhibition of melatonin secretion under long-lasting exposure. Recent developments in study of magnetoreception in mammals justify reviving the hypothesis previously proposed of the intervention of the magnetic sense in melatonin disruption by PF-MF. We revisit this hypothesis and revise and extend it with respect to current knowledge and, particularly, with respect to reported effects on spatial memory. Proposals are made for experimental testing of the hypothesis. We argue that these tests may provide further insight into mechanisms of biological interactions of PF-MF and also, into mechanisms of magnetoreception per se.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques Vanderstraeten
- Research Center on Environmental Health and Work Health, School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles, CP 593, Route de Lennik 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
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Dellis AT, Kominis IK. The quantum Zeno effect immunizes the avian compass against the deleterious effects of exchange and dipolar interactions. Biosystems 2011; 107:153-7. [PMID: 22142839 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2011.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2010] [Revised: 10/24/2011] [Accepted: 11/15/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Magnetic-sensitive radical-ion-pair reactions are understood to underlie the biochemical magnetic compass used by avian species for navigation. Recent experiments have provided growing evidence for the radical-ion-pair magnetoreception mechanism, while recent theoretical advances have unravelled the quantum nature of radical-ion-pair reactions, which were shown to manifest a host of quantum-information-science concepts and effects, like quantum measurement, quantum jumps and the quantum Zeno effect. We here show that the quantum Zeno effect provides for the robustness of the avian compass mechanism, and immunizes its magnetic and angular sensitivity against the deleterious and molecule-specific exchange and dipolar interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- A T Dellis
- Department of Physics, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
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